On March 1, customers participating in T-Mobile’s JUMP! upgrade program that currently costs $10 per month will either see a $2 dollar increase per month or a $1 reduction. According to letters being sent to JUMP! participants, T-Mobile is making the adjustments after they “evaluated” their Premium Handset Protection that is included in the JUMP! monthly … Continued

On March 1, customers participating in T-Mobile’s JUMP! upgrade program that currently costs $10 per month will either see a $2 dollar increase per month or a $1 reduction. According to letters being sent to JUMP! participants, T-Mobile is making the adjustments after they “evaluated” their Premium Handset Protection that is included in the JUMP! monthly fee.

Going forward, T-Mobile will rank phones on a 1-5 tier level. That tier level will determine how much your monthly JUMP! price will be. For example, if you own a tier 1, 2, or 3 phone, your JUMP! price will be $9 per month. If you own a tier 4 or 5 phone, your JUMP! price will be $12 per month.

T-Mobile is determining tier level based on the device value and how much the deductible for it would be. Tier 1 phones have deductibles in the $20 range, whereas tier 5 phones are at $175. Phones like the Galaxy Note 5 and iPhone 6s are tier 5.

You can see a copy of the letter below.

Along with the changes to JUMP! pricing, Premium Handset Protection (PHP) will change similarly. Currently, PHP runs $8 for everyone, but the price of it will change to $7 per month for tier 1-3 phones and jump to $10 per month for tier 4 and 5 phones.

Smartphone leases seem to be the hot topic of the moment, thanks to a public battle between the CEOs of T-Mobile and Sprint. They also seem to be confusing to many, including those in this industry. What’s the difference between T-Mobile and Sprint leases? Do you own your phone or not on a lease? What happens … Continued

Smartphone leases seem to be the hot topic of the moment, thanks to a public battle between the CEOs of T-Mobile and Sprint. They also seem to be confusing to many, including those in this industry. What’s the difference between T-Mobile and Sprint leases? Do you own your phone or not on a lease? What happens at the end of your lease? Can you buy the phone or do you have to return it? How do upgrades work? Is a lease a good or bad thing? There is a lot to talk about here.

To try and make this all as simple as is possible, we are going to take some time to go through T-Mobile and Sprint’s lease plans, hopefully to give you some sort of comparison of the pros and cons of each. Since T-Mobile’s appears to be a decent deal for those who like to upgrade often, we’ll start there.

The Basics

With T-Mobile’s JUMP! On Demand (JOD), well qualified buyers can grab a new smartphone with $0 out of pocket upfront, then pay for that phone with equal monthly payments on an 18-month lease. With JOD, you also get to upgrade up to 3 times per year without having to pay anything upfront, which means no upgrade fees. You do have to trade in your current device each time, though. If you ever make it to the full 18-months, you can pay off the rest of your phone or trade your current phone back in for a new one and start the cycle all over again.

Keep in mind that you also have to pay for service, which happens to be a postpaid Simple Choice plan priced at $50, $60, $70, or $80 per month.

Who is this program for?

First and foremost, this is for people who want to use the newest phones at all times without having to pay full retail, but also don’t mind a monthly phone payment. This is for people who like upgrading up to 3 times per year. With that said, if you don’t want to upgrade but once every two years (well, 18 months), this plan will also work for you because it actually ends up being cheaper than the regular JUMP! program and comes close to being a monthly device payment plan.

You see, you don’t have to pay the $10 participation fee like you do with regular JUMP!, but you can upgrade 3 times per year (if you want). That’s a significant savings. Just keep in mind that at the end of 18 months, if you choose to keep a phone, you’ll have to pay the difference in your total payments and the full retail cost of the phone to own it outright. Thankfully, if you go that route, there isn’t a weird mark-up – you pay exactly the total of what the full retail is of the phone you are buying.

What’s up with payments? Do they count towards the cost of the phone?

That’s exactly how it works. Each payment you make counts towards the cost of the phone you are leasing. Let’s say you choose the Galaxy S6, which costs $28.33 per month. After 18 months, you would have paid $509.94 toward that phone. If you decide to keep that phone when 18 months is up, you would then pay the difference in that $509.94 and the full retail cost of the phone ($679.92), which is roughly $170. You could then walk away with your phone, owning 100% of it.

But wait, why would I keep a phone for the full 18 months with this program?

I don’t know why you would do that. The whole point of this program is for you to upgrade all of the time and have new phones without ever having to pay for anything upfront.

Maybe you don’t want to pay that ridiculous $10 per month fee to be a part of the regular JUMP! program, yet love the phone you have, so you are in JOD? That could be an option. With JOD, you could just pay a normal monthly payment without extra fees, never take advantage of the upgrades, then just swap out at 18 months, all while saving $180 in JUMP! participation fees.

What phones are available in JUMP! On Demand?

How do upgrades work?

When you are ready to upgrade, all you have to do is walk into a participating T-Mobile store, hand them your current phone, and sign a new 18-month lease on a new phone. You don’t have to pay anything upfront or to upgrade. You just have to make sure your current phone is in good condition.

Keep in mind that most phones are going to carry different costs. So as you jump from one phone to another, your monthly cost could change. For example, T-Mobile is currently running a $15 promo monthly price for the iPhone 6, but should you jump to another phone like the Galaxy S6, your monthly payment will jump to $28.33 from $15.

Sprint’s CEO thinks this is shady, but it’s not. It’s promo pricing.

You can do this up to 3 times per year.

So why are people complaining about you never actually owning a phone with this program?

Well, that’s one of the typical complaints you also see with people who debate leasing a car vs. buying one. It’s up to you to decide if you care about ever actually fully owning a phone or if you would rather just keep swapping out for new phones all of the time.

With a lease program, the hope is that you will continue to swap for new phones all of the time to get you to continue to swap and sign 18-month agreement after 18-month agreement. It could be a never ending cycle that keeps you with T-Mobile. For example, if you pay for a phone for 6 months, then swap it for a new phone, you will sign another 18-month lease on that new phone, which then wipes out the 6 months of payments you just coughed up. So as you continue to swap and swap and swap, you also continue to make payments upon payments that never actually add up to you owning anything outright. Can you live with that?

Again, you have to decide if you are the type of person who wants a new phone all of the time without paying full retail or if you are the type of person who wants to feel like they spent their money on something and actually own it in the end.

I typically look at phones like cars – they are a monthly expense, but one that I don’t typically hang on to for long. If I want a new car every couple of years, and I’ve accepted the fact that this is going to be a monthly bill for the rest of my life, I would lease one. If I want a new phone every few months without having to fully pay them off, leasing is also probably the best choice.

What about phone insurance?

Actually, this is one of the better parts to JUMP! On Demand. You see, with the regular JUMP! program from T-Mobile, T-Mobile forces you into paying an extra $10 per month to be able to upgrade at any time, with that $10 cost also covering the price of Premium Handset Protection and Lookout Mobile Security. With JUMP! On Demand, you don’t have to pay that extra $10 fee to be a part of the program and upgrade whenever you want. So, if you are the type of person who never buys handset protection, then with JOD, T-Mobile isn’t forcing you into paying an unnecessary $10 each month. But, should you want some protection, you can add it on for $8 per month.

So in the end, even if you wanted Premium Handset Protection, it’ll only cost you $8 per month instead of $10. You are saving $2 per month with JOD over the regular JUMP!.

What if I cancel mid-way through?

Since you signed an 18-month lease, you would have to pay the remaining payments and return the device to T-Mobile. If there is good news here, it’s that you don’t have to pay T-Mobile for the remaining value of the phone, only the remaining payments.

Where can I sign up for JUMP! On Demand?

At this time, only in participating T-Mobile stores.

Wait, isn’t this basically just like me signing a good ol’ wireless contract?

Actually, yes, it is. However, this is a little different in that your wireless service and phone payment are separated into separate columns on your billing statement. So even though you are signing up for 18 months worth of payments (which means 18 months of service in reality), you know that at the end of that 18 months, you can wipe out the device payment portion if you choose and just pay for service.

Our biggest gripe with contracts in the past was how carriers were hiding subsidy costs in their service prices and would charge them even if you owned your phone outright. With JOD, you don’t have those hidden subsidy costs necessarily.

So is it worth signing up for?

Well, if you like upgrading a lot, then yeah, it probably is. It’s certainly a better deal than the regular JUMP!, which forces you to pay an extra $10 a month that many of you would rather hang on to. It doesn’t cost anything upfront or to upgrade.

The only spot some of you will hesitate at is that whole “never actually owning” a phone part. So you have to decide if you would rather swap out for new phones all of the time and just accept life with a phone payment, or if you want to end up owning phones outright. And even if you do want to own them outright, this is still probably a decent deal, since you can pay for the phone at the end of 18 months anyway.

And that’s it for now. As we see other areas to tackle, we will do our best to add to this post. Questions?

]]>http://www.droid-life.com/2015/07/02/t-mobiles-jump-on-demand-leasing-program-how-it-actually-works/feed/139T-Mobile’s JUMP! On Demand Program is Now Live at T-Mobile Storeshttp://www.droid-life.com/2015/06/29/t-mobiles-jump-on-demand-program-is-now-live-at-t-mobile-stores/
http://www.droid-life.com/2015/06/29/t-mobiles-jump-on-demand-program-is-now-live-at-t-mobile-stores/#commentsMon, 29 Jun 2015 15:22:20 +0000http://www.droid-life.com/?p=169908

That’s right, T-Mobile’s new JUMP! On Demand (JOD) program is now live in-store for those interested in buying into a program that lets you upgrade up to three times per year. Announced last week, JUMP! On Demand is a lease program that breaks a phone’s cost down into 18 equal monthly payments with zero down upfront. … Continued

That’s right, T-Mobile’s new JUMP! On Demand (JOD) program is now live in-store for those interested in buying into a program that lets you upgrade up to three times per year.

Announced last week, JUMP! On Demand is a lease program that breaks a phone’s cost down into 18 equal monthly payments with zero down upfront. Once you are in JOD, you can swap out for a new phone up to three times per year without having to pay to upgrade. If you don’t upgrade, at 18 months you will have the choice to either trade in again or buy the phone for the remaining balance of what it would cost at full retail. According to T-Mobile, there isn’t an extra mark-up at the end – you pay the difference between the phone at full retail and however much you paid during those 18 months.

Current phones in the program are the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, Galaxy Note 4, LG G4, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. If you would like to see monthly pricing for each, you can find that here.

T-Mobile’s new JUMP! On Demand program is all the rage this morning, with smartphone lovers excited over the idea that they could trade in phones for the new hotness up to 3 times per year. But some of you may be wondering which phones are a part of the program and how much they will cost. … Continued

T-Mobile’s new JUMP! On Demand program is all the rage this morning, with smartphone lovers excited over the idea that they could trade in phones for the new hotness up to 3 times per year. But some of you may be wondering which phones are a part of the program and how much they will cost. We have that info for you now to get you ready for June 28, the day this new upgrade program kicks off.

Phones and Pricing

According to T-Mobile, the first set of phones that are a part of JUMP! On Demand are the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy Note 4, LG G4, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. In other words, all of the best new phones that you would probably be interested in a part of it. T-Mobile also says to expect more phones in the future.

So those are the phones, how much will they cost per month? Take a look at the image below.

Understand that JUMP! On Demand (JOD) is a lease program; this isn’t the same as the original JUMP!, which is an equipment installment plan. With JOD, you are paying a monthly payment for 18 months with payments counting towards the cost of the phone. That means if you were to not upgrade a phone during the 18-month period, there is going to be a “final payment” due to make the phone yours, since you won’t actually pay off the phone in 18 months. For example, a Galaxy S6 at $28.33 for 18 months totals $509.94, but the full cost of a Galaxy S6 is normally $679.92. At the end of your 18-month period, you would still owe some cash to T-Mobile if you wanted to own your Galaxy S6 outright. The exact wording from T-Mobile is, “if you want to own your smartphone, simply pay the remaining lease payment and device purchase option price anytime.” Make sense?

I’m looking for clarification on what “device purchase option price” could mean and will update this post as I have it.

Update: T-Mobile got back to me and clarified that at the end of a lease if you decide to buy the phone, you will only pay the remainder of what the normal retail price would be. In the example above with the Galaxy S6, at 18 months, you would have paid $510, but the Galaxy S6 retails for $680. You would owe another $170. I was concerned that the “device purchase option price” would be higher in JOD to discourage you from buying the phone after a lease, but that doesn’t appear to be the case at all.

The point, though, is for you to never get to that 18-month mark and instead just keep upgrading phones and signing new 18-month lease deals. If you don’t plan on upgrading all of the time, then this may not be the plan for you, unless you don’t mind paying off the rest of the phone after the 18 months is up.

JUMP! On Demand vs. JUMP!

Here is another image showing how this differs from the regular JUMP! plan.

The differences here are pretty clear, right? With JOD, you don’t have to pay the $10 monthly fee, plus you can upgrade at any time, up to 3 times per year. Your monthly payments will be lower on JOD and you can upgrade more often. Assuming you aren’t into keeping phones for 2+ years and always want something new, JOD might be your better choice here.

]]>http://www.droid-life.com/2015/06/25/t-mobile-jump-on-demand-phones-pricing/feed/166T-Mobile Announces Jump On Demand, Letting You Upgrade “When You Want” Up to 3x Per Year (Updated)http://www.droid-life.com/2015/06/25/t-mobile-jump-on-demand-upgrades/
http://www.droid-life.com/2015/06/25/t-mobile-jump-on-demand-upgrades/#commentsThu, 25 Jun 2015 14:20:59 +0000http://www.droid-life.com/?p=169754

T-Mobile kicked off Un-carrier Amped! this morning, just as they promised. The first announcement in what should be a series of new initiatives, involves JUMP!, the device-payment upgrade program T-Mobile introduced back in 2013. Starting June 28, T-Mobile customers can join JUMP! On Demand and upgrade whenever they want, without fee, up to 3x per … Continued

T-Mobile kicked off Un-carrier Amped! this morning, just as they promised. The first announcement in what should be a series of new initiatives, involves JUMP!, the device-payment upgrade program T-Mobile introduced back in 2013. Starting June 28, T-Mobile customers can join JUMP! On Demand and upgrade whenever they want, without fee, up to 3x per year (12 months).

The new program works like this. T-Mobile will hand you a new smartphone with zero out of pocket costs. You agree to pay for it monthly, just like any other device payment plan. But when you decide you want a new phone, T-Mobile will let you get one at any time, up to 3 times per year. All you have to do is head into a T-Mobile store and swap out your current phone for a new one. Your phone will go through a “quick three-point check-up” to make sure it is still in good working condition before letting you grab the new device.

Unlike regular JUMP!, JUMP! On Demand doesn’t include a $10 monthly fee, so the program is essentially free outside of the cost of the phone per month. If you want device protection/insurance, you can have that for $8.

This new payment plan appears to be an 18-month lease rather than the typical 24-month plan most of you are used to. We don’t have pricing yet, but it sounds like T-Mobile is basically leasing you the phone for 18 months with monthly payments that likely don’t add up to the full cost of the phone. So at the 18-month mark, if you don’t want to upgrade to a new phone, there will be a “final payment” for you to make to pay off the remainder of the phone. Once you do that, the phone is yours to keep. You can also pay off the cost of the phone early.

We are still waiting to see if all of their phones are included in this plan. We will update this post as we have that info.

Update: Here are the list of phones that will be eligible for JUMP! On Demand at launch along with their monthly costs.

According to an internal memo received by Tmonews, changes are coming to T-Mobile’s JUMP! early upgrade program on February 23. The monthly payment plan, which seemed to ignite a new trend in the wireless space, will no longer have any time constraints or upgrade limits, and will soon include tablets as well. As of right … Continued

According to an internal memo received by Tmonews, changes are coming to T-Mobile’s JUMP! early upgrade program on February 23. The monthly payment plan, which seemed to ignite a new trend in the wireless space, will no longer have any time constraints or upgrade limits, and will soon include tablets as well.

As of right now, JUMP! requires that you wait 6 months with your new phone before upgrading again, whereas the new version of JUMP! will let you upgrade whenever. You also won’t find limits on how often you can upgrade, so if you’d like, upgrading four or five times per year could become a reality. All you would have to do is trade in your current phone and receive credit on all of the remaining payments or “up to half of the phone’s original cost.” Tmonews didn’t have ultra-clear specifics on that portion.

Adding in tablets seems like the next logical step for these monthly payment plans, so by no means does this move sound surprising. No specific details were mentioned in terms of differences between tablet and phone upgrades with JUMP!, so they could be identical.

So there you have it.

Update: T-Mobile has confirmed the changes to Fierce Wireless, saying that “whenever you’re ready to upgrade, trade in your device and T-Mobile will pay your remaining device payments up to 50% of the device cost. There is no more waiting period or limit to the number of times you can upgrade per year.” Tablets are also a part of the new plan.

]]>http://www.droid-life.com/2014/02/13/changes-reportedly-coming-to-t-mobiles-jump-upgrade-at-any-time-no-limits-and-tablets-added/feed/89Chart: Verizon Edge vs. AT&T Next vs. T-Mobile JUMP vs. Sprint One Uphttp://www.droid-life.com/2013/09/20/chart-verizon-edge-vs-att-next-vs-t-mobile-jump-vs-sprint-one-up/
http://www.droid-life.com/2013/09/20/chart-verizon-edge-vs-att-next-vs-t-mobile-jump-vs-sprint-one-up/#commentsFri, 20 Sep 2013 22:56:02 +0000http://www.droid-life.com/?p=120195Now that Sprint has joined the other three major U.S. carriers by making their early upgrade plan official, we felt as if a simple chart was in store to help display most of the fine print from each. And while we wouldn’t necessarily recommend that you participate in any of these outside of T-Mobile’s, we … Continued

Now that Sprint has joined the other three major U.S. carriers by making their early upgrade plan official, we felt as if a simple chart was in store to help display most of the fine print from each. And while we wouldn’t necessarily recommend that you participate in any of these outside of T-Mobile’s, we know that monthly payment plans are an attractive option for those who want to keep current data plans and upgrade often. So below, to help those of you in that category out, you’ll find a comparison of Verizon Edge, AT&T Next, T-Mobile JUMP!, and Sprint One Up.

This isn’t the money breakdown, which shows you how big of a rip-off the two plans from Verizon and AT&T are, because we already ran through those numbers. This is a chart that shows how each plan works, when you can upgrade, if there are fees attached, how many payments you’ll make, if you can pay your phone off early, etc.

Most of this stuff is pretty straight forward, but charts always make it easier to visualize and compare.

]]>http://www.droid-life.com/2013/09/20/chart-verizon-edge-vs-att-next-vs-t-mobile-jump-vs-sprint-one-up/feed/133Verizon Edge is Now Live – Most Top Tier Phones Start at $25.22 Per Monthhttp://www.droid-life.com/2013/08/26/verizon-edge-is-now-live-most-top-tier-phones-start-at-25-22-per-month/
http://www.droid-life.com/2013/08/26/verizon-edge-is-now-live-most-top-tier-phones-start-at-25-22-per-month/#commentsMon, 26 Aug 2013 16:30:25 +0000http://www.droid-life.com/?p=118170Shortly after T-Mobile (JUMP!) and AT&T (Next) revealed new upgrade-often, monthly payment plans, Verizon joined the party with Edge. We’ve already compared all three, essentially coming to the conclusion that the options from AT&T and Verizon are nothing short of rip-offs that double charge you for the same device, while T-Mobile’s is at least a … Continued

Shortly after T-Mobile (JUMP!) and AT&T (Next) revealed new upgrade-often, monthly payment plans, Verizon joined the party with Edge. We’ve already compared all three, essentially coming to the conclusion that the options from AT&T and Verizon are nothing short of rip-offs that double charge you for the same device, while T-Mobile’s is at least a somewhat fair choice. But no matter what we think, Edge (which is now live) is an option for those who want to upgrade often and also do not want to have to pay an upfront down payment. Edge will allow customers in good standing the chance to get a phone at a relatively low monthly price and zero down, other than the activation fee and first month’s payment.

Along with the go-live of Verizon Edge, we’re also expecting a special to rollout to unlimited data customers called Verizon Max. Max is an option that would allow unlimited customers a chance to join the Edge program, while still maintaining a sizable allotment of monthly data. We’re talking package deals that start at 6GB of data for $30, an amount that would run a Share Everything customer at least $80. The deal is not being advertised on Verizon’s site at this time, so we’re assuming it’ll only be presented to customers with unlimited data. (Update: It’s live.)

So with Edge now live, we thought we should point out at least a few of the important pieces of it. We knew most of it previously, but now with the official FAQ live, we know it all.

NOTE: To be clear, since there seems to be confusion – you cannot keep unlimited data and participate in Edge. Verizon has introduced Verizon Max as the option for unlimited data users who want to go the monthly payment and early upgrade route. We have gone back to clarify that in previous posts on Edge.

Here are some of the most important FAQ to be aware of:

1. What are the benefits of Verizon Edge?

With Verizon Edge, you can:

Purchase a new phone with a low monthly payment

Enjoy the latest technology available by upgrading your phone more frequently

Sign a month-to-month agreement instead of a long-term contract

Upgrade without additional fees or finance charges

2. Who is eligible for Verizon Edge?

To be eligible for Verizon Edge, existing customers must meet the following requirements:

Six months of good payment history

Eligible for an upgrade

Customers with accounts less than six months will need to go through an internal e-credit check.

To be eligible for Verizon Edge, new customers must pass a credit check.

Prepaid accounts aren’t currently eligible for Verizon Edge.

3. Can I add insurance to a Verizon Edge phone?

Yes. You can purchase insurance and are encouraged to do so to protect against loss or damage.

4. Is there an activation fee for new customers who sign up for Verizon Edge?

Yes. The activation fee policy applies to all new customers, even those signing up for Verizon Edge.

5. Does the Verizon Edge program require a contract?

Yes, you must have a service agreement at the time you enter your 24-month Verizon Edge Agreement. However, a long-term service agreement isn’t required.

6. Can I pay more than my scheduled monthly Verizon Edge installment?

No, unless you are either seeking to Edge Up to a new device, which requires that you pay at least 50% of the device following the initial six months of the Verizon Edge Agreement, or you are seeking to pay off 100% of your Verizon Edge installment agreement, which you may do at any time.

7. What is the Edge Up option under Verizon Edge?

The Edge Up option allows you to turn in your existing Edge phone and upgrade to a new one without an upgrade fee. You must meet the other Edge Up eligibility requirements in the Verizon Edge Agreement to use this option.

]]>http://www.droid-life.com/2013/08/26/verizon-edge-is-now-live-most-top-tier-phones-start-at-25-22-per-month/feed/193T-Mobile Drops Huge Lineup of Devices to $0 Down Starting Tomorrowhttp://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/26/t-mobile-drops-huge-lineup-of-devices-to-0-down-starting-tomorrow/
http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/26/t-mobile-drops-huge-lineup-of-devices-to-0-down-starting-tomorrow/#commentsFri, 26 Jul 2013 16:10:42 +0000http://www.droid-life.com/?p=115509As far as monthly payment programs for devices go, T-Mobile’s JUMP! program is probably your best bet. T-Mobile is looking to make that deal even better starting tomorrow with a deal on almost all of their top smartphones and devices. Head into a T-Mobile store tomorrow and as a part of their JUMP! program you … Continued

As far as monthly payment programs for devices go, T-Mobile’s JUMP! program is probably your best bet. T-Mobile is looking to make that deal even better starting tomorrow with a deal on almost all of their top smartphones and devices. Head into a T-Mobile store tomorrow and as a part of their JUMP! program you can grab a top smartphone for no money down upfront.

Phones like the Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 2 are topping the list. Sony’s Xperia Z and the HTC One are also included in this program. Of course you are going to pay for these in monthly installments instead and that is where T-Mobile is going to make their money back. This program raises the monthly cost of the phones ever so slightly to even out the cost, but it’s still a pretty good deal.

If you’re looking to get into T-Mobile’s LTE lineup, this might be the sale for you. Is anyone interested in this?

]]>http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/26/t-mobile-drops-huge-lineup-of-devices-to-0-down-starting-tomorrow/feed/87Comparing Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile’s New Upgrade Planshttp://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/16/comparing-verizon-att-and-t-mobiles-new-upgrade-plans/
http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/16/comparing-verizon-att-and-t-mobiles-new-upgrade-plans/#commentsTue, 16 Jul 2013 19:41:11 +0000http://www.droid-life.com/?p=114301The newest fad in the wireless industry has quickly become upgrade plans. After Verizon and AT&T both extended upgrade periods out to 24 months, we have since seen T-Mobile and AT&T officially announce new options to upgrade, but all signs point to Big Red joining them in August. T-Mobile’s is called JUMP!, AT&T’s is called … Continued

The newest fad in the wireless industry has quickly become upgrade plans. After Verizon and AT&T both extended upgrade periods out to 24 months, we have since seen T-Mobile and AT&T officially announce new options to upgrade, but all signs point to Big Red joining them in August. T-Mobile’s is called JUMP!, AT&T’s is called “Next,” and Verizon’s will be called “VZ Edge.”

It’s pretty obvious that carriers have realized that upgrades are simply another way for them to rake in cash, by implementing fees or locking customers into payment plans that will keep them on their network. So to try to help explain all three of these new plans, I’ve attempted to break down some basic examples below. It’s a long one, so strap in.

VZ Edge from Verizon

Since the only details we know about VZ Edge are through a report of ours, we still do not know everything, however, since it appears to be an extension of Verizon’s device payment plan, we can make pretty good guesses here. Once this plan is announced, we will try to get back and update this post to make it 100% accurate.

Update: Verizon has announced VZ Edge, so we’ve made edits to the original post to make sure it is accurate.

The Basics:

Full retail priced smartphone or tablet price must be a minimum of $349.99.

Pay for the full retail priced smartphone or tablet in 24 payments.

Finance charge of $24, which is just $2 per installment.

Once 50% of the device is paid off and you have participated for 6 months, you can upgrade to a new phone.

To upgrade, you trade in your current phone.

There are no upgrade fees, no contract agreements, or finance charges.

First payment due at time of purchase. Your next payment will appear on your next Verizon Wireless bill.1

Feel free to pay off the full balance of your new full retail priced smartphone or tablet anytime you want.

Example 1:

I’ll use my current Verizon situation as an example, since it includes unlimited data and is likely a scenario that many of you are looking at. I have an older $80 per month 700-minute share plan, along with two lines that each have $29.99 unlimited data plans. I’m also a current customer, so there was no upfront cost for a new phone. So my bill, sans taxes and fees, runs about $140 per month. If I were to buy into the device payment plan in order to pick up a new phone and still keep my unlimited data (can’t keep unlimited data, have to switch to a Verizon Max plan), we’re looking at the full retail price of a phone broken down into 24 monthly payments plus a $24 finance charge (also broken into 12 payments). So say I choose the Samsung Galaxy S4 which costs $650 – I would then be looking at an additional monthly charge of around $27 for 24 months; my bill would jump to $167.

But with VZ Edge, I can upgrade to a new phone once that Galaxy S4 I just bought is 50% paid off and have participated for 6 months. Assuming I pay the regular $27 per month payment, I could upgrade again in 12 months time. I’d have paid $324 already on that phone.

Now this is where it becomes a bit of a mystery, as the full details are not yet available. Verizon has followed T-Mobile or AT&T’s lead, in that they allow you to trade in your current phone that is 50% paid off and pick up a new one. You wouldn’t have to pay an upfront cost other than the first month’s payment to get your new phone.

So essentially, depending on the full retail price of the phone you buy, you are looking at anywhere from an extra $15 to close to $30 added on to your bill per phone. At the end of the 24-month payment plan, should you not upgrade after paying 50% off, you will pay an additional $325 (top tier phone price) in a year period for something like the Galaxy S4, which is on top of the $1680 your service plan already ran you during that same year.

Example 2:

To use one of Verizon’s current plans, let’s just tackle a single line on Share Everything with a standard 2GB of data. You are looking at $40 per month for the smartphone line itself (unlimited talk and text), plus $60 per month for the 2GB of data ($15 extra for every GB over). Your bill would be $100 per month.

If you decide you want to participate in the device payment plan with VZ Edge and start with a Galaxy S4, you will also pay an extra $27 per month installment. If you pay the phone off after 24 months, you will have paid $325 extra in a 2-year period on top of the $1200 your service plan ran you. You could also upgrade a year in (or once you paid off 50% of your phone), but that shouldn’t change your payment if you bought another phone that was $650 at full retail. Again, that’s assuming Verizon will let you swap out phones at the 50% mark and not make you continue to carry a payment for the old phone until it’s paid off.

At the end of a 2-year period, you are looking at $2400 for the service, plus $1300 (assuming you picked up two $650 phones), totaling $3700 (sans taxes and fees). Keep in mind that you may also be able to tack on an additional $200 or so, should you have bought a subsidized phone at the beginning of the contract or as a new customer.

Conclusion:

Where this all gets really dirty, is in the idea of a subsidy. You see, with most wireless plans, customers buy a phone at a subsidized price of say $200 for the latest and greatest at the beginning of a contract. Carriers give you such a good deal on a phone that would normally cost $650 because they build a subsidy type of charge into your monthly service plan to help pay off that phone. While they may not ever admit that, it’s widely understood in the industry that this is the way it works. So say my bill is $140 for my two lines, a portion of that is likely there to cover a subsidy, should I have received a deal on a phone when I signed my contract.

With something like VZ Edge (and also AT&T Next, which we’ll get to), Verizon is asking you to pay a monthly fee for a device (plus a finance charge) and also that subsidy that is built into your service plan. Yes, you are essentially getting double pimp-slapped. Feel insulted? You should.

Note: Verizon has announced that there are no finance charges with VZ Edge, so that’s why you are seeing the finance charge sections crossed out.

AT&T Next from AT&T

AT&T announced AT&T Next on July 16 as their attempt to offer an early upgrade option for those who love to stay on the cutting edge of technology. Of course, this move came shortly after they raised their upgrade dates on contracts from 20 to 24 months.

The Basics:

Customers can get a new device with no down payment.

Upgrade and activation fees are waived with AT&T Next.

The monthly device installments do not have a financing fee.

There’s no penalty if the customer pays off the balance of their installment plan early.

Customers can trade in their device after 12 months, or they can keep using their device, and have no more installment payments after 20 months.

There’s no additional monthly fee required to participate in AT&T Next upgrades.

Devices operate on the nation’s fastest 4G LTE network.

Example 1:

AT&T’s plans work much like Verizon’s, so I’ll just grab one of their Mobile Share plans that includes unlimited talk and text. If we choose the 4GB data option (there isn’t a 2GB option), then we’re looking at $45 per month for a single smartphone plus $70 per month for 4GB of data. Your bill, as a single line, would run about $115 per month or $2760 for the life of a contract (sans taxes and fees).

But let’s say you decide you want to participate in AT&T Next, so you buy a new phone. You choose the Galaxy S4 which costs $650 at full retail. AT&T breaks that down in 20 monthly payments, making it $32 per month extra on top of your $115. There is no finance charge per month, unlike Verizon who charges $2 per month. In 12 months, you can decide to trade your phone in and pick up a new one. AT&T will wipe the other phone and payment away and let you take on a new monthly payment for the new phone. If you don’t want a new phone at the 12-month mark, you can continue to pay your current phone off until you hit 20 months. When upgrading at the 12-month mark, there is no downpayment.

If we look 24 months down the road, you could be on your second phone and have paid $768 ($32 per month), assuming both were $650 phones, plus the $2760 for your wireless service for a total of $3528. This scenario does not include the $200 you likely spent when you signed your contract and purchased a subsidized phone.

Conclusion:

So the difference here when compared to Verizon’s plan is minimal. There are different monthly installment periods and percentages, but in the end it’s the same deal. AT&T Next asks that you pay for normal wireless service with the subsidy built in to the cost, plus add on an additional monthly payment for a phone. Again, they are double charging you for a phone – you are paying for it twice.

JUMP! from T-Mobile

T-Mobile introduced JUMP! as their upgrade plan, giving customers the opportunity to upgrade phones two times every 12 months, while paying a $10 per month charge (this also includes insurance for the phone).

The Basics:

Buy a new smartphone on a Simple Choice Plan using our Equipment Installment Program.

Enroll in JUMP! for $10 a month when you add Services to your order.

Upgrade as soon as six months after enrollment.

Trade in your phone each time you upgrade so you can get the same great price as new customers for new phones.

Example 1:

Let’s say you pick up T-Mobile’s Simple Choice plan which runs $60, gives you unlimited talk and text, plus unlimited data with up to 2.5GB at full 4G speeds. Since T-Mobile makes phones separate from their plans now, you really do only pay $60 a month for service. Unlike Verizon and AT&T, T-Mobile doesn’t include a subsidy phone charge in their plans.

But this is where it gets different. Should you choose the Galaxy S4 at the time you sign up for service, you will pay a down payment of $150 for the phone. You will then have a $20 per month installment plan to pay the rest of it off over 24 months. If you sign-up for JUMP!, so that you can upgrade often, you will pay an additional $10 per month which is the fee associated with the program. Your monthly bill is now $90.

So you participate in JUMP! for 6 months and decide to upgrade to a new top tier phone that costs $150. You trade in your Galaxy S4, pay the $150 for the new phone, and continue on about your way. T-Mobile doesn’t ask you to pay off the previous phone, they just give you a new installment plan that matches your old at $20 per month. You have now paid $300 upfront for two phones, and $180 (equal to 6 months worth of payments for phones, plus $10 JUMP! fee). If we take the upfront costs of the phones out for a second, you are essentially paying $30 per month ($20 installment for phone, $10 for JUMP!) for early upgrades and to be a part of JUMP!.

If you were to upgrade the one time during your first 12 months (you can do it twice if you want), you would have paid $720 for service, plus $240 in device installments, plus $120 to be a part of JUMP!. Tack on the $150 you paid as a downpayment on the first phone, plus another $150 as a downpayment on the second phone and your total for one year’s worth of service on T-Mobile sits around $1380.

If you don’t upgrade to another phone at any time then for another 12 months and just pay for service, your total cost would sit somewhere around $2460. Now, T-Mobile wants you to upgrade more, so they have given you the opportunity to upgrade twice every 12 months, so should you have upgrade again, you could tack on another $150 which would be a downpayment on a top tier phone.

Conclusion:

In the end, T-Mobile’s JUMP! upgrade option is just that, an option, but it’s not necessarily cheaper as a stand-alone product than either Verizon or AT&T’s new upgrade plans. You are paying around $30 per month (depending on the phone) to participate in their JUMP! program ($20 installments and $10 JUMP! fee), plus you have to throw down a downpayment of around $150 for a top tier phone each time you upgrade whereas VZW and AT&T don’t require downpayments. So in terms of how much you are paying per month, it seems like you would be paying more for T-Mobile’s upgrade plan, right?

Technically yes, but just for the upgrade plan. Since T-Mobile pulls out the subsidy fee from their service, they aren’t hitting you up twice for the same phone, something that both Verizon and AT&T are doing by adding in subsidy costs into their wireless plans. In reality, you have lower service expenses, with slightly higher priced upgrade options on T-Mobile. Also, T-Mo’s plan includes equipment coverage in the $10 fee, while Verizon and AT&T still charge you extra.

Final Thoughts

I probably don’t need to say this, but none of these companies would be doing this if they weren’t making money in the end. The big deal to me with these plans, is the fact that Verizon and AT&T are essentially charging you twice for your phone. They include a subsidy fee in their wireless service, but are now also asking that you pay a monthly fee for a phone just because you want to upgrade more than once every two years.

With T-Mobile, the entire package looks cheaper, but that’s because T-Mo doesn’t include a subsidy fee in their wireless plans, leaving it substantially lower from the get-go. For example, you can get unlimited talk, text, and data (with 2.5GB at full 4G speeds) on T-Mobile for $60 per month, while AT&T is charging you $115 for something comparable because of the subsidy fee. Verizon is much the same way.

T-Mobile is clearly the more affordable overall option, but you already knew that. Your problem for sticking with one of the big two carriers probably has to do with coverage and network more than anything. Hopefully this will at least help you realize where that few extra hundred dollars is going when you decide to join their upgrade program in order to keep your current plan. If anything, know that you aren’t getting a deal.

*Note – In the examples, I didn’t go into the idea that you could re-sell your phones after you pay them off, as that can completely change the entire situation.

]]>http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/16/comparing-verizon-att-and-t-mobiles-new-upgrade-plans/feed/271T-Mobile Announces “JUMP!” as New Phone Upgrade Policy, Lights Up 116th LTE Market, Intros Sony Xperia Zhttp://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/10/t-mobile-announces-jump-as-new-phone-upgrade-policy-lights-up-116th-lte-market-intros-sony-xperia-z/
http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/10/t-mobile-announces-jump-as-new-phone-upgrade-policy-lights-up-116th-lte-market-intros-sony-xperia-z/#commentsWed, 10 Jul 2013 19:16:02 +0000http://www.droid-life.com/?p=113757T-Mobile is still on stage in New York at the time of writing this, unveiling all sorts of new company initiatives, but since the press release for it all has already gone live, let’s talk about it. We’ve got four big things to discuss: their new JUMP! phone upgrade policy, the launch of their 116th 4G … Continued

T-Mobile is still on stage in New York at the time of writing this, unveiling all sorts of new company initiatives, but since the press release for it all has already gone live, let’s talk about it. We’ve got four big things to discuss: their new JUMP! phone upgrade policy, the launch of their 116th 4G LTE market, a new family option, and the release of the Sony Xperia Z on their network.

In terms of JUMP!, we’re looking at a $10 per month charge per phone that allows you to upgrade your phone whenever you’d like (sort of) and protects against malfunction, damage, loss or theft. You can upgrade phones using T-Mobile’s Equipment Installment Program (EIP) twice every 12 months after you have been a part of JUMP for six months. All you have to do is trade in your previous phone in “good working condition” at any store. If you have remaining payments on that phone, they will be wiped out, since you’ll likely add on a new payment plan when you buy a new phone. New phones will be purchased at the same price as new customers.

On the 4G LTE front, T-Mobile announced today that they are now live in 116 metropolitan areas, reaching 157 million people across the country. They were initially expecting to hit 100 million people by this point, but as the numbers suggest, they have crushed that goal. By the end of the year, they are expecting to be in more than 200 metropolitan areas, and covering more than 200 million people.

T-Mobile also announced a new “breakthrough” family option for their customers. This new plan gives families with four lines of unlimited talk, text and web (up to 500MB of high-speed data) for $100 per month. There is no credit check or annual contract.

And finally, T-Mobile announced that they are now carrying the Sony Xperia Z. The device will launch on July 17 for $99 down, but if you pre-order it on July 16, they’ll toss in a free Sony Bluetooth speaker as a gift. If you don’t feel like waiting until July 16, you can purchase the Xperia Z from 38 different Sony stores as early as today.

NEW YORK – July 10, 2013 – T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) isn’t resting after turning the industry upside down with its “Un-carrier” approach to wireless earlier this year. It’s picking up the pace and continuing to revolutionize wireless for consumers.

At an event in New York today, America’s Un-carrier announced a groundbreaking new program, JUMP!(TM), which enables people to upgrade their phones when they want, up to twice a year as soon as six months from enrollment.

“At some point, big wireless companies made a decision for you that you should have to wait two years to get a new phone for a fair price. That’s 730 days of waiting. 730 days of watching new phones come out that you can’t have. Or having to live with a cracked screen or an outdated camera,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile US. “We say two years is just too long to wait. Today, we’re changing all that with the launch of JUMP! Now, customers never have to worry about being stuck with the wrong phone. And, yes – it’s really as good as it sounds.”

In addition to JUMP!, T-Mobile today announced a major expansion of its 4G LTE network to reach 157 million people in 116 metro areas across the United States. The company also unveiled a program enabling families to get four phone lines with unlimited talk, text and Web and up to 500MB of high-speed data for only $100 per month – with no credit check or annual service contract required.

Today’s news builds on months of momentum since T-Mobile announced a series of bold moves in March. The announcements included dramatically simplifying its lineup of consumer rate plans to one affordable plan for unlimited talk, text and Web on a nationwide network; eliminating the need for consumers to sign annual service contracts; and enabling customers to get popular smartphones whenever they want for amazingly low upfront pricing.

Since then, market data indicates the company has nearly tripled its flow of postpaid net-new customers from AT&T and shows T-Mobile gaining more net-new customers in May than each of the other major wireless carriers in New York; Los Angeles; Houston; the San Francisco Bay Area; Miami; San Diego; and Washington, D.C.

An Easy “JUMP” to Phone Upgrades
JUMP! from T-Mobile is designed to provide customers with total protection for one of their prized possessions: their smartphones. It offers the freedom to upgrade to a new device more affordably and protects against malfunction, damage, loss or theft – all for just $10 per month, per phone (plus taxes and fees). That’s just $2 more than most customers have been paying for handset protection alone.

Beginning Sunday, July 14, customers can choose to upgrade when they want, not when they’re told with JUMP! Here’s how it works: Customers can upgrade to a new phone, financed through T-Mobile’s Equipment Installment Program (EIP), twice every 12 months after they’ve been in the JUMP! program for six months. Simply trade in an eligible T-Mobile phone in good working condition at a participating store location. Any remaining EIP payments will be eliminated, and current customers can purchase new phones for the same upfront pricing as new customers, with device financing and Simple Choice Plan, a no-annual-service contract. With JUMP!, current customers never pay more for their new phones than new customers.1

T-Mobile’s 4G LTE Network Rapidly Expanding
Having a great device means little without a fantastic network supporting it, so T-Mobile is also moving at incredible speed to make its already lightning-fast network even better and faster for customers.

Today, T-Mobile announced that its 4G LTE network now reaches 157 million people across the United States – far exceeding the company’s stated midyear goal of reaching 100 million people – and is live in 116 metropolitan areas.

Major metropolitan areas where T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network service has launched include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta, Miami, and many others. The company debuted 4G LTE less than four months ago.

T-Mobile remains on target to deliver nationwide 4G LTE network coverage by the end of the year, reaching 200 million people in more than 200 metropolitan areas.

In addition, T-Mobile’s 4G HSPA+ network service is available to 228 million people nationwide. By combining 4G HSPA+ and LTE network technologies, T-Mobile can provide customers with a strong, seamless nationwide 4G network experience.

Launching Breakthrough Family Option with No Credit Checks
T-Mobile today is also extending its Un-carrier strategy to families by addressing a huge customer headache: being denied premium family-plan rates because of less-than-premium credit.

Beginning July 14, families can get four Simple Choice Plan lines with unlimited talk, text and Web and up to 500MB of high-speed data for only $100 per month (plus taxes and fees) – no credit check and no annual service contract required.

An average of one in three consumers who apply for wireless service do not have strong enough credit to qualify for the best wireless rates, according to industry data. Other customers prefer to avoid the hassle of a credit check. As a result, these customers may forego service from a top provider or purchase several prepaid lines.

But with T-Mobile, all families can now access a great multi-line deal with no credit check. Simply put down a deposit (roughly equivalent to one month’s bill) to get the same incredible multi-line rates and network experience as other customers.

The Simple Choice Plan has been wildly popular with families since its introduction in March. About 80 percent of customers who have signed up for the plan have opted for multiple lines.

Continues to Expand 4G LTE Device Lineup
T-Mobile also is quickly growing its premium lineup of 4G LTE-capable devices. Today, the company announced pricing and availability for three new devices, bringing its portfolio to nine 4G LTE-capable smartphones. The new devices include the following:

Xperia® Z from Sony. T-Mobile will be the exclusive U.S. wireless company to offer Sony’s flagship water-resistant Android(TM)-powered smartphone to customers this summer.2 The Xperia Z will be available for $99.99 down, with 24 equal monthly device payments of $20 for well-qualified buyers for 0 percent APR on approved credit3 through T-Mobile retail stores and select retailers, as well as online at http://www.T-Mobile.com starting July 17. On July 16, customers can also pre-order the device online from the same website and receive a free Sony Wireless Bluetooth Speaker gift with purchase (while supplies last). Customers may also purchase the device beginning today at any of the 38 U.S. Sony Store locations, including the flagship store in New York, or online at www.Sony.com/xperiaz/tmobile and will be eligible to receive the free Sony speaker as a gift with purchase (while supplies last).

Nokia Lumia 925. Also starting July 17, T-Mobile’s first 4G LTE Windows Phone will be available for $49.99 down with 24 equal monthly device payments of $20 for well-qualified buyers for 0 percent APR on approved credit3 through T-Mobile retail stores and select retailers, as well as online at http://www.T-Mobile.com.

Samsung Galaxy Tab(TM) 2 10.1. T-Mobile will provide current Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 users with an over-the-air software update that will enable customers to take advantage of T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network in the coming weeks. Well-qualified customers may also purchase the device with the 4G LTE capability for $99.99 down with 24 equal monthly device payments of $15 for 0 percent APR on approved credit3 through T-Mobile retail stores and select retailers, as well as online at http://www.T-Mobile.com today.

JUMP! may not be available in all locations. See your sales associate at participating T-Mobile retail stores, or go to http://www.T-Mobile.com for details.

For more information, fact sheets, artwork and other collateral materials, see http://multimediacapsule.thomsonone.com/t-mobileusa/t-mobile’s-un-carrier-2-0-event.

1 Device pricing may vary based on approved credit.
2 As of Feb. 4, 2013, outside of Japan there are no smartphones with a waterproof rating higher than the Sony Xperia Z/ZL. For more information on Strategy Analytics results, go to http//:www.sonymobile.com/testresults.
3 If you cancel wireless service, remaining balance on phone becomes due. Not available in Washington, D.C.

About T-Mobile US, Inc.:
As America’s Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: “TMUS”) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. The company’s advanced nationwide 4G and 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences for customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile US operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and MetroPCS. It currently serves approximately 43 million wireless subscribers and provides products and services through 70,000 points of distribution. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.

]]>http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/10/t-mobile-announces-jump-as-new-phone-upgrade-policy-lights-up-116th-lte-market-intros-sony-xperia-z/feed/197T-Mobile to Launch ‘Jump’ Device Unlimited Upgrade Planhttp://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/10/t-mobile-to-launch-jump-device-unlimited-upgrade-plan/
http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/10/t-mobile-to-launch-jump-device-unlimited-upgrade-plan/#commentsWed, 10 Jul 2013 16:27:10 +0000http://www.droid-life.com/?p=113688T-Mobile has a press event scheduled today, but the announcements they have in store are pretty much already known. The highlight of the show is definitely going to be the introduction of Jump, an unlimited device upgrade plan that will allow T-Mo customers to upgrade their current handset at “new customer pricing” whenever they want, … Continued

T-Mobile has a press event scheduled today, but the announcements they have in store are pretty much already known. The highlight of the show is definitely going to be the introduction of Jump, an unlimited device upgrade plan that will allow T-Mo customers to upgrade their current handset at “new customer pricing” whenever they want, as much as they want.

According to previous reports, customers might have to pay an additional monthly fee to enroll in the service, but details on that are still unconfirmed. When signed up, a customer will no longer have to wait two years or for whenever their upgrade date is reached, allowing phone addicts to always have the best device on the market, if that is something they want.